Interpreting the history of letterpress in St. Louis
at Central Print
St. Louisans have long excelled in the art and business of letterpress (reproducing media with printing presses).
Armed with their business sense, craftspersonship, and ever-advancing letterpress technology, the city’s early printmakers enabled an explosion of publishing and new ideas throughout the growing West. Contemporary artists carry on this legacy at Central Print, a letterpress studio in St. Louis’s Old North district. I worked with Central Print to interpret this story through the non-profit’s growing collection of letterpress equipment. Interpretive graphics supplement guided tours, inspire visitors to try letterpress, and give voice to the countless individuals who devoted their life’s work to the printed page.
For centuries, most printed matter was made with tiny lead letters which were hand-stacked into backwards words, inked, and pressed onto paper.
One exhibit theme focused on the impact letterpress had on advertising in the region and beyond. This "Ludlow" was built for big, bold headlines.
We kept interpretation super low-budget by using foam core and stands made from locally-donated scrap wood.
Graphics give a glimpse of the hands, hearts, and brains that were—and still are—devoted to letterpress.
